Eric Cantona becomes FC United of Manchester co-owner

Established in 2005, the member-owned club boasts more than 2,000 co-owners - but the support of Cantona is perhaps the most eye-catching of them all. 

FC United, who sit 12th in the Northern Premier League, are democratically run by supporters on a "one member, one vote" basis.

Members have the chance to vote on major club decisions, including the election of officials and ticketing.

Adult membership costs £25 and provides members with an equal share of club ownership.

'King Eric', as he is affectionately known by Red Devils supporters, enjoyed great success during his time at Old Trafford, winning four Premier League titles in five seasons.

His antics saw his cemented as a cult hero within the UK footballing landscape, long before he hung up his foots in 1997 after making 156 appearances for the club, scoring 70 goals.

The formation of FC United was a response to the controversial takeover of United by the Glazer family.

And in a social media video confirming the co-ownership of Cantona and his family, the Frenchman said that FC United had a 'young but great' history.

An FC United of Manchester spokesperson told the BBC: "We're delighted to welcome Eric and his family as our latest co-owners, joining over 2,000 other FC United fans who believe there's a better way for football - where clubs are run with the interests of supporters and local communities at the heart of everything they do.

"Eric said he joined us because we're a club that does things differently - driven by fairness, inclusivity, and a commitment to putting people before profit.

“While our history is short, it's something we're already incredibly proud of - built by fans, for fans.”